Damage Done

Kawan Embak, Kak U suka menggunakan istilah “Damage Done” untuk setiap musibah yang memaksa keluar belanja. Contohnya, bila paip di dapurnya tersumbat, dia kata, “Tadi Akak kena panggil si Yap betulkan paip, damage done enampuluh ringgit!”.

Akhir-akhir ni Embak pula kena "Damage Done", bertimpa-timpa. Dua minggu lepas, tayar kereta Embak pancit. Kereta dan Embak tersadai di tepi Federal Highway dekat 2 jam jugak sebelum trak tarik datang. Masa tu damage done seratus empat puluh ringgit. Sabtu baru-baru ni, tayar yang lain pulak pancit. Nasib baik dah dekat dengan kedai tayar. Sebenarnya, Embak dah lama tak tukar tayar; dah banyak tahun jugak Embak bukan setakat gasak malah lanyak sampai haus. Apatah lagi shock absorber yang tak pernah ditukar sejak sebelas tahun lalu. Spark plug pun Embak boleh pakai sampai pecah. Kiranya Embak dah perah habis-habisan hayat parts kereta. Bukannya sengaja, sebetulnya tak ambil pot. Bila mekanik rekomen Embak tukar semua, Embak pun bulatkan hati, ikut saja walaupun lumayan damage donenya; kena seribu empat ratus tiga puluh ringgit!

Pagi tadi, dalam Embak bergegas nak ke kursus satu hari, kereta Embak enggan nak mula. Aisey, baterilah pulak kong. Damage done lagih. Mekanik Embak kata, tukar aje kereta, kurang sakit kepala. Embak sengeh. Sekali-sekala fening boleh tahan lagi. Tapi fening setiap bulan bayar ansuran kereta, Embak tak sanggup. Patutnya dia gembira, orang macam Embak dok berulang ke woksyop dia. Rasanya akan bertahan dengan Iswara antik nih. Sesiapa yang kesiankan Embak, boleh belikan Embak yang dalam gambar atas tu sebijik. Pastu, Embak kena carik sorang untuk taja belanja aelenggaranya pulak..

To each, his/her own

Hurrah! My fav contestant, Kris Allen won this year’s American Idol. To add sugar to the pudding was his win was unexpected by the judges, who had proclaimed Adam Lambert the champion since very early of the season. I wish I had the picture of their faces when Kris Allen’s name was announced as the winner. Even Kris Allen was shocked (see picture). That makes my choice come out tops two years running; last year I was on the money with David Cook. My other favourite this season is Matt Giraud, who appeared nervous in most of his live performances, but sounded fantastic in the studio recordings.

My past favourite contestants were Anwar Robinson (Anwar who?), Melinda Doolittle and Elliot Yamin, whom to date is still my most favourite. So, what can you surmise by my choices? That I am a middle of the pack, non-risk taker, non-confrontational, gentle, sensitive, peace loving, war hating person? You bet I am.

Here's the video of Mr Allen's gorgeous studio recording of the song, Falling Slowly.

Inside an insurance agency

I received this sms from my Agency Manager near midnight 9th May, 2009.

" AGENCY MEETING – 12th MAY 2009 10 AM. Attendance is compulsory. Pls be there yrself. There will be some changes on rules in my agency. Those who do not attend don’t start singing that u r not aware on this n that. C u all team. Pls b punctual meeting will start sharp. Time is MONEY. "

Hmm.. i wonder what storm is brewing in my manager's cup. But I suspect it's just an enticement for us to come to the meeting. Ha ha! Bad seniors!

ETA 12th May, 2009 5.20 pm - My manager means business! He says he is not our boss; rather we, the agents and he are business partners. So, from now on, we have to pay for each fax that goes out and comes in via his fax machine; RM 0.50 for incoming, RM1 for local outgoing, RM3 for outstation outgoing and RM5 for international outgoing. The two senior agents are too worn out to argue. We are going to install a fax machine in our houses and thus we now have less reason to show up at the office.

Asmaul Husna - Al Mannan

Al Mannan is one of Allah's names. It means, among other things, reminding about one’s good deeds. But this attribute belongs to Allah alone. The humans are not allowed to remind others (mengungkit) (even while talking to Allah) of their good deeds. Allah says in Al Baqarah 263-264:

(Translation):

**Kind words and forgiving (of faults) are better than charity followed by injury. And Allah is Rich (Free of all needs) and He is Most-Forbearing.

O you who believe! Do not render in vain your Sadaqah by reminders of your generosity or by injury, like him who spends his wealth to be seen of men, and he does not believe in Allah, nor in the Last Day. His likeness is the likeness of a smooth rock on which is a little dust, on it falls heavy rain which leaves it bare. They are not able to do anything with what they have earned. And Allah does not guide the disbelieving people.**

How not to commit mannan? The ulama recommend that after one does a good deed, shut up and forget about it!